With Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea all set to qualify for Europe via their league placing, only Fulham are ahead of the Clarets in the table – with nothing to stop relegated clubs taking up the European place on offer.

Brian Laws, the Burnley manager, said: "There is an outside chance and that depends on how Fulham go on. If they win the competition we have a chance of slipping in there. That would be fantastic for the club and the town. It is a long shot but we will wait and see what happens."

Burnley confirmed today that they have been granted a Uefa Licence and will file their application for entry into next season's Europa League.

The fair play rankings would mean that, so long as Fulham and England have both retained their current positions – and with only matches played up to 30 April included in Uefa's rankings, they should know very soon – the Cottagers would qualify for Europe even if they lose the Europa League final to Atlético Madrid on 12 May.